Urban ReThink seems to be filling up local art and culture calendars lately with some interesting additions to their monthly Signature Series events; the Super Joy Riders: Do Gooder Bike Ride, the Artist's Survival Guide, and the sleeper hit Converse: A Spontaneous, Interactive Talk Show.
Host Mary Thompson Hunt brings her years of improvisational theatre experience and love of story telling to the Urban ReThink stage as she leads her audience through a series of questions, and then pulls people onto the stage to share their stories with other attendees. On paper this event could easily be just another feel good sharing circle or awkward business mixer, but with Mary's guidance it easily transcends the norm and becomes something really special and authentically "Orlando".
Last month's Converse had community activist Tim McKinney of United Global Outreach as a guest "storyteller" to share his work on the Transformation Village in Bithlo, which is fitting as the theme of the night was in fact, transformation. The crowd was incredibly diverse with people who wandered in from the street, coworkers who stayed after Urban ReThink's shared hours had ended, theater lovers, as well as some frequent Urban ReThink-flyers. The mix really made for a memorable night.
The next event is on Wednesday August 28th and the guest storyteller will be Joshua Vickery, the Executive Director of Central Florida Community Arts, and from the sounds of it, it's going to be amazing. If you're afraid of public speaking, take advantage of the pay-by-donation wine and beer corner to build up some courage. For more information click HERE
Photos by Holly Whelden Photography
